Hoodies are essential fashion accessories for some people, even when they’re on a motorcycle. While a traditional hoodie is designed to keep you warm, the Alpinestars Chrome Superairflow hoodie has plenty of mesh to keep you comfortable when temperatures reach into the 100s, while also allowing you to adhere to your strict fashion protocols.

The Alpinestars Chrome Superairflow hoodie is designed for urban riding and light sport duty. The hoodie is rated CE AA Class, which is mid-duty between low-speed urban riding and track performance. CE Level 1 elbow and shoulder armor is standard.

For back protection, you’ll have to supplement the jacket with an Alpinestars Tech-Air airbag or a traditional back protector. In this case, we went with the Alpinestars Nucleon Kr-Celli CE Level 1 back protector. The Alpinestars Chrome Superairflow hoodie has a $265 MSRP, and the back protection added $ 70 for our test.

The mesh does the job of flowing air across your body, even in the hottest conditions. For the underarms and the side body, Alpinestars uses a traditional, breathable poly material for additional abrasion protection during a slide. This has the added benefit of giving the Chrome Superairflow hoodie some shape, though it still has a lot of mesh and hangs on the body rather than feeling fitted.

The hoodie is the main attraction, and it is, indeed, a hoodie. That allows you to social signal to those in the know. To keep the Chrome Superairflow hoodie functional as technical motorcycle wear, the hood snaps down. Between the snap and the mesh material for the hood, you won’t notice it’s there, even at freeway speeds. This gives you the non-negotiable hoodie credibility without sacrificing usability.

The pocket situation on the Chrome Superairflow hoodie is unusual. The left hand-pocket has no closure, so it’s only good for your hands. Expect anything you put in it to fall out. The right hand-pocket is also open, though there’s an interior auxiliary zippered pocket inside the main pocket, which is something I’ve never seen before. Be careful when using that zippered pocket, as it’s easy to put something in the main pocket, thinking you have put it in the zippered pocket. Zip it up, and your cargo is still ready to fall out at a moment’s notice.

There’s no Napoleon pocket, though there are two standard-style lower storage pockets inside the jacket that can handle a smartphone or a wallet. The right interior pocket has a hook-and-loop closure, while the left side zips shut and is waterproof.

To keep the styling clean, there are no fit adjustments. Instead, there’s a stretchy material around the bottom of the jacket. The cut is loose and can accommodate a wide range of body types, armor, and airbag systems.

With a list price of $265, the Alpinestars Chrome Superairflow hoodie is not aimed at bargain hunters. It’s premium quality technical motorcycle apparel, though you’ll have to fill in the blank for back protection. When the heat is on, the Chrome Superairflow makes the hottest days tolerable. If you don’t ride on blistering hot days, Alpinestars makes a non-mesh Chrome V2 hoodie that comes with a $15 price break. Either way, you’re bringing your street cred to your motorcycle riding experience.

Alpinestars Chrome Superairflow Hoodie Fast Facts

• Sizes: XS – 4XL
• Shoulder and elbow armor: Alpinestars Nucleon Flex Plus CE Level 1
• Back protection: None (Optional Nucleon Kr-Celli Back Protection Insert Level 1 tested, $70)
• Certification: CE AA Class
• COLORS

  Util Brown/Black

• Black/White
• Black/Black
• Black/Mid Gray/Red Fluo

Alpinestars Chrome Superairflow Hoodie Price: $265 MSRP ($335, as tested)

Alpinestars Chrome Superairflow Hoodie Review Photo Gallery